Meghalaya HC 'closes' state right to file affidavits

The Meghalaya High Court today 'closed' the right of the state government to file affidavits on the provisions of Meghalaya Lokayukta Act, 2014, that allows a non-judicial member to head it, after the chief secretary did not file a comprehensive affidavit on the matter.
"We have asked the Chief Secretary only to file a comprehensive affidavit which he has not done. Thus, we close the right of State to file affidavit," a division bench headed by Chief Justice Uma Nath Singh said in its order.
The bench said that despite a detailed order passed by this court last year (on December 17), Chief Secretary P B O Warjri has not filed affidavit.

The High Court had directed the state government to file affidavit on the provisions of Section 3 of Meghalaya Lokayukta Act, 2014, which allows non-judicial members to be appointed as the Chairperson of the Lokayukta in the state.
Justice Singh also said that though the state has decided to file a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court, until there is an order of stay, the proceedings pending before this Court cannot be stalled merely on such statements.
The next hearing on the matter will be held on January 7.